Folding carton

ABSTRACT

A folding carton is provided in which a window is formed having portions thereof disposed in adjacent angularly disposed panels of the carton. The adjacent panels are interconnected by a foldline. A window member overlies the window opening and the margin of the member is secured to the concealed surfaces of the panels circumjacent the opening. The foldline connecting the windowed panels is separated into two sections by the window opening. Each foldline section includes a pair of elongated scorelines which extend outwardly and convergently from the window opening and intersect one another at a point spaced outwardly from the margin of the window member.

United States Patent 1191 Zeitter 1111 3,870,221 1 1 Mar. 11, 1975 FOLDING CARTON [75] Inventor: Charles R. Zeitter, Grand Rapids,

Mich.

[73] Assignee: Packaging Corporation of America,

Evanston, Ill.

[22] Filed: Oct. 9, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 404,607

52 us. c1 229/16 D, 206/4531, 206/45.34 511 Int. Cl 365d 5/18 [58] Field 61 Search... 229/16 D, 16 A, 16 R, 37 R, 229/23 A, 315, 23 R, 34 R, 35 R, 16 c, 26,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,700,456 [/1955 Gillam 206/4531 X Primary E.ramii1cr-George F. Mautz [57] ABSTRACT A folding carton is provided in which a window is formed having portions thereof disposed in adjacent angularly-disposed panels of the carton. The adjacent panels are interconnected by a foldline. A window member overlies the window opening and the margin of the member is secured to the concealed surfaces of the panels circumjacent the opening. The foldline connecting the windowed panels is separated into two sections by the window opening. Each foldline section includes a pair of elongated scorelines which extend outwardly and convergently from the window opening and intersect one another at a point spaced outwardly from the margin of the window member.

7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures FOLDING CARTON BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1 Heretofore in foldable windowed carton, difficulty has been experienced, particularly where the window member was of a heavy gauge film, in that the window member became delaminated from the carton board and/or the exposed surface of the carton board became fractured when the carton was set up. Furthermore, because of the gauge of the window member, it was resistant to being abruptly folded (e.g., 90) with the result that the stresses produced by the folded film oftentimes caused distortion of the setup carton.

When delamination of the window member or fracturingof the paperboard occurs, the contents of the folded carton are susceptible to soiling, infestation and- /or leakage and the esthetic appearance of the carton is diminished with the result that the marketability of the package is seriously impaired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide a windowed folding carton which is capable of utilizing a heavy gauge film as a window member without the latter becoming delaminated from the carton board when the carton is set up.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a windowed folding carton utilizing a heavy gauge film as a window member wherein the latter will not cause fracturing of the exposed surface of the carton board when the carton is set up.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a windowed folding carton utilizing a heavy gauge film as a window member wherein the latter is subjected to bending when the carton is set up and yet does not cause distortion of the setup carton.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a windowed folding carton wherein the blank therefor may be formed by high speed conventional equipment and utilizing well-known manufacturing techniques.

Further and additional objects will appear from the description, accompanying drawings and appended claims.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a folding carton is provided wherein a pair of adjacent panels thereof are foldably connected to one another by a foldline, and said panels and foldline have a window opening formed therein. Overlying the window opening is a window member formed of heavy gauge film. The margin of the window member overlaps and is secured to the concealed surfaces of the panels and foldline which are circumjacent the window opening. The window opening separates the foldline into two sections, each of which includes a pair of elongated scorelines extending convergently outwardly from the perimeter of the opening and intersecting one another at a point beyond the margin of the window member. The panels and the window member secured thereto define an abrupt angle when the carton is set up.

DESCRIPTION For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference should be made to the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the concealed surface of one form ofa blank for the improved windowed folding carton.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the blank of FIG. 1 folded to form the improved carton in a fully setup condition.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the concealed surface of the blank of FIG. 1 shown in a partially setup condition.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of a blank incorporating a modified foldline.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 2, one form of the improved windowed folding carton 10 is shown which includes a top panel 11 and a front panel 12 foldably interconnected by a foldline 13. The ends of the carton are closed by suitable closure flaps l4, l5 and 16, see FIG. 1. In addition to the top and front panels and the closure flaps, the carton is provided with a bottom panel 17 connected to side panel 12 by a foldline l8, and a back panel 20 connected to the top panel 11 by a foldline 21. A glue flap 22 may be foldably connected to either panels 17 or 20, the latter being shown in FIG. 1.

A large window opening 23 is formed in the blank 24 and has a portion 23a thereof extending into top panel 11 and a second portion 23b thereof extending into the front panel 12. A third portion 23c is disposed adjacent to foldline 13.

Disposed in overlying relation with respect to the opening 23 is a window member 25 which is formed of a heavy gauge transparent film. The film may be of polyvinylchloride and have a thickness greater than 3 mills. The remainder of the blank 23 may be of paperboard coated on the exposed surface and having a thickness of sufficient caliper to withstand the force exerted by the film when the carton is erected so as to avoid distortion.

The margin 25a of member 25 overlaps the concealed surface of the portion of the blank circumjacent the opening 23 by a substantial amount (e.g., 1 inch) and is secured thereto by a suitable adhesive. The adhesive is preferably applied in a continuous band which completely encircles the opening 23. Thus, when member 25 is in place, there is a continuous seal between the margin 25a of the member 25 and the concealed surface of the blank.

The foldline 13, which interconnects the windowed panels 11 and 12, is separated into like sections by the opening 23. Each foldline section is of like configuration in the illustrated embodiment and includes a pair of scorelines 13a and b which extend convergently outwardly from the perimeter of the opening 23. The scorelines intersect one another at a point 13c which is spaced outwardly from the margin 25a of window member 25. It is preferred that the spacing, or distance, between the intersecting point 13c and the periphery of member 25 be substantially equal to the amount the margin 25a of the member overlaps the portion the blank circumjacent the opening 23. In other words, point 136 should be spaced from the perimeter of the opening by an amount which is twice the distance the outer edge of member 25 is spaced from said perimeter.

The included angle formed by the convergent scorelines should be approximately 5-45 depending on the amount (width) of the paperboard which borders the window opening 23 or 123. The scorelines 13a and b are formed on the exposed surface of the blank 24, so

that when the carton is set up and panels 11 and 12 assume an abrupt angular relation (e.g., 90), the scorelines 13a and b will cause the portion of the blank in the vicinity of scorelines 13a and b and overlapped by the margin 25a of the window member 25 to assume a curved or rounded relation in contrast to a sharp crease and, thus, the margin of the member 25 will conform to said curved or rounded configuration without becoming delaminated from the remainder of the blank. Furthermore, because of the margin 25a of the member assuming the curved or rounded configuration, the stresses imparted to the overlapped portion of the blank by the member 25 are minimal or substantially reduced and, thus, fracturing of the exposed surface of the blank when the carton is set up is avoided.

It will be noted in FIG. 1 that the point of intersection 13c of the convergent foldlines 13a and b at each side of opening 23 is located on or adjacent to the foldline 26 which connects closure flaps 14 and 16 to the respective panels 12 and 11.

In the modified blank 124, shown in FIG. 5, the point of intersection 1136 of each pair of convergent scorelines 113a and 1l3b is located intermediate the periphcry of window member 125 and the foldline 126 connecting the closure flaps 114 and 116 to the respective panels 112 and 111. A short scoreline 113d joins the point of intersection 113C with the foldline 126 and is disposed perpendicular to the latter. Scoreline 113d bisects the included angle (5-45) formed by the convergent scorelines 113a and l13b. The scorelines 113d at opposite sides of opening 23 are in axially aligned relation. Thus, when blank 124 is folded so as to set up a carton, the scorelines 113a and 1l3b will coact in the same manner as scorelines 13a and 1312, as previously described and, thus, avoid the problems of delamination and fracturing.

The configuration of the blank and resulting carton may vary from that shown without departing from the scope of the invention. In any case, the blank may be readily formed by high-speed slitting, slotting and cutting equipment and the adhesive and window member can be applied by utilizing well known techniques.

The improved carton may be readily set up either manually or automatically and the problems of delamination and fracturing are eliminated.

I claim:

1. A folding carton comprising a plurality of panels separated from one another by a plurality of foldlines, at least one pair of adjacent panels and the foldline connecting same having an enlarged window opening formed therein; and a bendable window member overlying said opening and having the margin of said member overlapping and being secured to the concealed surfaces of said panels and foldline cicumjacent said window opening; said opening separating said foldline into opposed aligned sections, each foldline section including a pair of scorelines extending laterally outwardly and convergently from the perimeter of the opening and intersecting one another at a point spaced laterally outwardly from the periphery of said window member.

2. The folding carton of claim 1 wherein the point of intersection of each pair of convergent scorelines is spaced from the margin of said window member by an amount at least substantially equal to the amount said margin overlies the surfaces of said panels and foldline.

3. The folding carton of claim 1 wherein the margin of said window member is adhesively secured to the concealed surfaces of said panels and said foldline circumjacent said window opening.

4. The folding carton of claim 1 wherein said panel and foldline concealed surfaces are in substantially planar relation and said window member assumes a substantially planar condition when said carton is in an unfolded state.

5. The folding carton of claim 4 wherein said panels and the segments of the window member affixed thereto, when said carton is set up, assume an abrupt angular relation, and the portion of said window member adjacent said foldline and interconecting said window member segments assumes a smoothly curved non-creased configuration.

6. The folding carton of claim 2 wherein a third elongated scoreline extends laterally outwardly from the point of intersection of each pair of convergent scorelines; the third scorelines of said pairs of convergent scorelines being in axial alignment.

7. The folding carton of claim 3 wherein a continuous band of adhesive encircles the perimeter of said opening and effects the adhesive securement between the margin of said window member and the concealed surfaces of said panels and foldline.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO. 3,870,221 DATE 1 March 11, 1975 |NvENTOR(S) 1 Charles R. Zeitter It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Col. 2, line 32, "mills" should be mils Col. 4, line 7, "cicumjacent" should be circumjacent Signed and sealed this 13th day of May 1975.

(SEAL) Attest:

C. MARSHALL DANN RUTH C. MASON Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer and Trademarks 

1. A folding carton comprising a plurality of panels separated from one another by a plurality of foldlines, at least one pair of adjacent panels and the foldline connecting same having an enlarged window opening formed therein; and a bendable window member overlying said opening and having the margin of said member overlapping and being secured to the concealed surfaces of said panels and foldline cicumjacent said window opening; said opening separating said foldline into opposed aligned sections, each foldline section including a pair of scorelines extending laterally outwardly and convergently from the perimeter of the opening and intersecting one another at a point spaced laterally outwardly from the periphery of said window member.
 1. A folding carton comprising a plurality of panels separated from one another by a plurality of foldlines, at least one pair of adjacent panels and the foldline connecting same having an enlarged window opening formed therein; and a bendable window member overlying said opening and having the margin of said member overlapping and being secured to the concealed surfaces of said panels and foldline cicumjacent said window opening; said opening separating said foldline into opposed aligned sections, each foldline section including a pair of scorelines extending laterally outwardly and convergently from the perimeter of the opening and intersecting one another at a point spaced laterally outwardly from the periphery of said window member.
 2. The folding carton of claim 1 wherein the point of intersection of each pair of convergent scorelines is spaced from the margin of said window member by an amount at least substantially equal to the amount said margin overlies the surfaces of said panels and foldline.
 3. The folding carton of claim 1 wherein the margin of said window member is adhesively secured to the concealed surfaces of said panels and said foldline circumjacent said window opening.
 4. The folding carton of claim 1 wherein said panel and foldline concealed surfaces are in substantially planar relation and said window member assumes a substantially planar condition when said carton is in an unfolded state.
 5. The folding carton of claim 4 wherein said panels and the segments of the window member affixed thereto, when said carton is set up, assume an abrupt angular relation, and the portion of said window member adjacent said foldline and interconnecting said window member segments assumes a smoothly curved non-creased configuration.
 6. The folding carton of claim 2 wherein a third elongated scoreline extends laterally outwardly from the point of intersection of each pair of converGent scorelines; the third scorelines of said pairs of convergent scorelines being in axial alignment. 